| 1. |
- Berner, Jessica, et al.
(författare)
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Factors influencing Internet usage in older adults (65 years and above) living in rural and urban Sweden
- 2015
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Ingår i: Health Informatics Journal. - : Sage Publications. - 1460-4582 .- 1741-2811. ; 21:3, s. 237-249
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Older adults living in rural and urban areas have shown to distinguish themselves in technology adoption; a clearer profile of their Internet use is important in order to provide better technological and health-care solutions. Older adults' Internet use was investigated across large to midsize cities and rural Sweden. The sample consisted of 7181 older adults ranging from 59 to 100 years old. Internet use was investigated with age, education, gender, household economy, cognition, living alone/or with someone and rural/urban living. Logistic regression was used. Those living in rural areas used the Internet less than their urban counterparts. Being younger and higher educated influenced Internet use; for older urban adults, these factors as well as living with someone and having good cognitive functioning were influential. Solutions are needed to avoid the exclusion of some older adults by a society that is today being shaped by the Internet.
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| 2. |
- Andersson, Christian, et al.
(författare)
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The impact of a reproductive health voucher in Uganda using a quasi-experimental matching design
- 2024
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Ingår i: Reproductive Health. - : BioMed Central (BMC). - 1742-4755. ; 21:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study assesses the impact of a voucher project that targeted vulnerable and poor pregnant women in Uganda. Highly subsidised vouchers gave access to a package of safe delivery services consisting of four antenatal visits, safe delivery, one postnatal visit, the treatment and management of selected pregnancy-related medical conditions and complications, and emergency transport. Vouchers were sold during the project’s operational period from 2016 to 2019. This study covers 8 out of 25 project-benefiting districts in Uganda and a total of 1,881 pregnancies, including both beneficiary and non-beneficiary mothers. Using a matching design, the results show a positive effect on the survival of new-born babies. The difference in the survival rate between the control group and the treatment group is 5.4% points, indicating that the voucher project reduced infant mortality by more than 65 per cent. © The Author(s) 2024.
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| 3. |
- Nordberg, Marika, et al.
(författare)
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Aetiology of tick-borne infections in an adult swedish population-are co-infections with multiple agents common
- 2014
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Ingår i: Open Journal of Clinical Diagnostics. - Scientific Research : Scientific Research Publishing, Inc.. - 2162-5816 .- 2162-5824. ; 4:1, s. 31-40
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In Scandinavia, tick-borne infections affecting humans include Lyme borreliosis (LB), tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) and human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA). Each of these infections can present with unspecific symptoms. In this prospective clinical study, we recruited patients based on two independent inclusion criteria; 1) patients with unspecific symptoms, i.e. fever (≥38.0˚C) or a history of feverishness and/or any combination of headache, myalgia or arthralgia and 2) patients with erythema migrans (EM), following an observed tick bite or tick exposure within one month prior to onset of symptoms. A total of 206 patients fulfilled the study. Among these, we could identify 186 cases of LB (174 with EM), 18 confirmed and two probable cases of HGA and two cases of TBE. Thirteen of the HGA cases presented without fever. Furthermore, 22 of the EM patients had a sub-clinical co-infection with Anaplasma phagocytophilum, based on serology. Both TBE cases had co-infections, one with Borrelia burgdorferi and one with Anaplasma phagocytophilum. We conclude that it is important to consider several causative agents and possible co-infections in the clinical management of infectious diseases where ticks may be suspected as vectors.
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| 4. |
- Javeed, Ashir, 1989-, et al.
(författare)
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Predictive Power of XGBoost_BiLSTM Model : A Machine-Learning Approach for Accurate Sleep Apnea Detection Using Electronic Health Data
- 2023
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Ingår i: International Journal of Computational Intelligence Systems. - : Springer Nature. - 1875-6891 .- 1875-6883. ; 16:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Sleep apnea is a common disorder that can cause pauses in breathing and can last from a few seconds to several minutes, as well as shallow breathing or complete cessation of breathing. Obstructive sleep apnea is strongly associated with the risk of developing several heart diseases, including coronary heart disease, heart attack, heart failure, and stroke. In addition, obstructive sleep apnea increases the risk of developing irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias), which can lead to low blood pressure. To prevent these conditions, this study presents a novel machine-learning (ML) model for predicting sleep apnea based on electronic health data that provides accurate predictions and helps in identifying the risk factors that contribute to the development of sleep apnea. The dataset used in the study includes 75 features and 10,765 samples from the Swedish National Study on Aging and Care (SNAC). The proposed model is based on two modules: the XGBoost module assesses the most important features from feature space, while the Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory Networks (BiLSTM) module classifies the probability of sleep apnea. Using a cross-validation scheme, the proposed XGBoost_BiLSTM algorithm achieves an accuracy of 97% while using only the six most significant features from the dataset. The model’s performance is also compared with conventional long-short-term memory networks (LSTM) and other state-of-the-art ML models. The results of the study suggest that the proposed model improved the diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea by identifying the risk factors.
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| 5. |
- Javeed, Ashir, 1989-, et al.
(författare)
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Decision Support System for Predicting Mortality in Cardiac Patients Based on Machine Learning
- 2023
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Ingår i: Applied Sciences. - : MDPI. - 2076-3417. ; 13:8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Researchers have proposed several automated diagnostic systems based on machine learning and data mining techniques to predict heart failure. However, researchers have not paid close attention to predicting cardiac patient mortality. We developed a clinical decision support system for predicting mortality in cardiac patients to address this problem. The dataset collected for the experimental purposes of the proposed model consisted of 55 features with a total of 368 samples. We found that the classes in the dataset were highly imbalanced. To avoid the problem of bias in the machine learning model, we used the synthetic minority oversampling technique (SMOTE). After balancing the classes in the dataset, the newly proposed system employed a (Formula presented.) statistical model to rank the features from the dataset. The highest-ranked features were fed into an optimized random forest (RF) model for classification. The hyperparameters of the RF classifier were optimized using a grid search algorithm. The performance of the newly proposed model ((Formula presented.) _RF) was validated using several evaluation measures, including accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, F1 score, and a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. With only 10 features from the dataset, the proposed model (Formula presented.) _RF achieved the highest accuracy of 94.59%. The proposed model (Formula presented.) _RF improved the performance of the standard RF model by 5.5%. Moreover, the proposed model (Formula presented.) _RF was compared with other state-of-the-art machine learning models. The experimental results show that the newly proposed decision support system outperforms the other machine learning systems using the same feature selection module ((Formula presented.)).
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| 6. |
- Georgsson, Mattias, 1969-, et al.
(författare)
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Employing a user-centered cognitive walkthrough to evaluate a mHealth diabetes self-management application : A case study and beginning method validation
- 2019
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Ingår i: Journal of Biomedical Informatics. - : Elsevier. - 1532-0464 .- 1532-0480. ; 91
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: Self-management of chronic diseases using mobile health (mHealth) systems and applications is becoming common. Current evaluation methods such as formal usability testing can be very costly and time-consuming; others may be more efficient but lack a user focus. We propose an enhanced cognitive walkthrough (CW) method, the user-centered CW (UC-CW), to address identified deficiencies in the original technique and perform a beginning validation with think aloud protocol (TA) to assess its effectiveness, efficiency and user acceptance in a case study with diabetes patient users on a mHealth self-management application. Materials and methods: A total of 12 diabetes patients at University of Utah Health, USA, were divided into UC-CW and think aloud (TA) groups. The UC-CW method included: making the user the main evaluator for detecting usability problems, having a dual domain facilitator, and using three other improved processes: validated task development, higher level tasks and a streamlined evaluation process. Users interacted with the same mHealth application for both methods. Post-evaluation assessments included the NASA RTLX instrument and a set of brief interview questions. Results: Participants had similar demographic characteristics. A total of 26 usability problems were identified with the UC-CW and 20 with TA. Both methods produced similar ratings: severity across all views (UC-CW = 2.7 and TA = 2.6), numbers of problems in the same views (Main View [UC-CW = 11, TA = 10], Carbohydrate Entry View [UC-CW = 4, TA = 3] and List View [UC-CW = 3, TA = 3]) with similar heuristic violations (Match Between the System and Real World [UC-CW = 19, TA = 16], Consistency and Standards [UC-CW = 17, TA = 15], and Recognition Rather than Recall [UC-CW = 13, TA = 10]). Both methods converged on eight usability problems, but the UC-CW group detected five critical issues while the TA group identified two. The UC-CW group identified needed personalized features for patients’ disease needs not identified with TA. UC-CW was more efficient on average time per identified usability problem and on the total evaluation process with patients. NASA RTLX scores indicated that participants experienced the UC-CW half as cognitively demanding. Common themes from interviews indicated the UC-CW as enjoyable and easy to perform while TA was considered somewhat awkward and more cognitively challenging. Conclusions: UC-CW was effective for finding severe, recurring usability problems and it highlighted the need for personalized user features. The method was also efficient and had high user acceptance. These results indicate UC-CW's utility and user acceptance in evaluating a mHealth self-management application. It provides an additional usability evaluation technique for researchers. © 2019
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| 7. |
- Lagergren, Mårten, et al.
(författare)
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Horizontal and vertical targeting : a population-based comparison of public eldercare services in urban and rural areas of Sweden
- 2016
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Ingår i: Aging Clinical and Experimental Research. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1594-0667 .- 1720-8319. ; 28:1, s. 147-158
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The concepts of target efficiency can be used to assess the extent to which service provision is in line with the needs of the population. Horizontal target efficiency denotes the extent to which those deemed to need a service receive it and vertical target efficiency is the corresponding extent to which those who receive services actually need them. The aim of this study was to assess the target efficiency of the Swedish eldercare system and to establish whether target efficiencies differ in different geographical areas such as large urban, midsize urban and rural areas. Vertical efficiency was measured by studying those people who received eldercare services and was expressed as a percentage of those who received services who were functionally dependent. To measure horizontal target efficiency, data collected at baseline in the longitudinal population study SNAC (Swedish National study on Aging and Care) during the years 2001-2004 were used. The horizontal efficiency was calculated as the percentage of functionally dependent persons who received services. Functional dependency was measured as having difficulty with instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) and/or personal activities of daily living (PADL). Services included long-term municipal eldercare services (LTC). Horizontal target efficiency for the public LTC system was reasonably high in all three geographical areas, when using dependency in PADL as the measure of need (70-90 %), but efficiency was lower when the less restrictive measure of IADL dependency was used (40-50 %). In both cases, the target efficiency was markedly higher in the large urban and the rural areas than in the midsize urban areas. Vertical target efficiency showed the same pattern-it was almost 100 % in all areas for IADL dependency, but only 50-60 % for PADL dependency. Household composition differed in the areas studied as did the way public long-term care was provided to people living alone as compared to those co-habiting.
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| 8. |
- Heath, Christian, et al.
(författare)
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Video and qualitative research : analysing medical practice and interaction
- 2007
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Ingår i: Medical education. - : Blackwell Publishing. - 1365-2923. ; 41:1, s. 109-116
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- There has been a longstanding recognition that video provides an important resource within medical education particularly, perhaps, for training in primary health care. As a resource for research, and more specifically within qualitative social science studies of medical practice, video has proved less pervasive despite its obvious advantages. In this paper, we sketch an approach for using video to inform the analysis of medical practice and the ways in which health care is accomplished through social interaction and collaboration. Drawing on our own research we discuss two brief examples; one the use of computing technology in primary health care and secondly informal instruction during surgical operations. The examples illustrate the multimodal character of medical work, how activities are accomplished through the interplay of talk, the visual and the use of material artefacts. They also illustrate the ways in which video provides access to the complex forms of social interaction and collaboration that underpin health care. We reflect upon the research opportunities afforded by video and the ways in which video based studies of interaction can contribute to the practice and practicalities of medicine.
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| 9. |
- Ferguson, Murdo, et al.
(författare)
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Lot-to-lot immunogenicity consistency of the respiratory syncytial virus prefusion F protein vaccine in older adults
- 2024
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Ingår i: Vaccine: X. - : Elsevier. - 2590-1362. ; 18
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Previous phase 3 studies showed that the AS01E-adjuvanted respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) prefusion F protein-based vaccine for older adults (RSVPreF3 OA) is well tolerated and efficacious in preventing RSV-associated lower respiratory tract disease in adults ≥ 60 years of age. This study evaluated lot-to-lot immunogenicity consistency, reactogenicity, and safety of three RSVPreF3 OA lots. Methods: This phase 3, multicenter, double-blind study randomized (1:1:1) participants ≥ 60 years of age to receive one of three RSVPreF3 OA lots. Serum RSVPreF3-binding immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentration was assessed at baseline and 30 days post-vaccination. Lot-to-lot consistency was demonstrated if the two-sided 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) of the RSVPreF3-binding IgG geometric mean concentration (GMC) ratios between each lot pair at 30 days post-vaccination were within 0.67 and 1.50. Solicited adverse events (AEs) within four days, unsolicited AEs within 30 days, and serious AEs (SAEs) and potential immune-mediated diseases within six months post-vaccination were recorded. Results: A total of 757 participants received RSVPreF3 OA, of whom 708 were included in the per-protocol set (234, 237, and 237 participants for each lot). Lot-to-lot consistency was demonstrated: GMC ratios were 1.06 (95 % CI: 0.94–1.21), 0.92 (0.81–1.04), and 0.87 (0.77–0.99) between the lot pairs (lot 1/2; 1/3; 2/3). For the three lots, the RSVPreF3-binding IgG concentration increased 11.84-, 11.29-, and 12.46-fold post-vaccination compared to baseline. The reporting rates of solicited and unsolicited AEs, SAEs, and potential immune-mediated diseases were balanced between lots. Twenty-one participants reported SAEs; one of these–a case of atrial fibrillation–was considered by the investigator as vaccine-related. SAEs with a fatal outcome were reported for four participants, none of which were considered by the investigator as vaccine-related. Conclusion: This study demonstrated lot-to-lot immunogenicity consistency of three RSVPreF3 OA vaccine lots and indicated that the vaccine had an acceptable safety profile. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05059301. © 2024 GSK
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| 10. |
- Andersson, Ewa K., 1972-, et al.
(författare)
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Self-Reported eHealth literacy among nursing students in Sweden and Poland : The eNursEd cross-sectional multicentre study
- 2023
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Ingår i: Health Informatics Journal. - : Sage Publications. - 1460-4582 .- 1741-2811. ; 29:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study aimed to provide an understanding of nursing students’ self-reported eHealth literacy in Sweden and Poland. This cross-sectional multicentre study collected data via a questionnaire in three universities in Sweden and Poland. Descriptive statistics, the Spearman’s Rank Correlation Coefficient, Mann–Whitney U, and Kruskal–Wallis tests were used to analyse different data types. Age (in the Polish sample), semester, perceived computer or laptop skills, and frequency of health-related Internet searches were associated with eHealth literacy. No gender differences were evidenced in regard to the eHealth literacy. Regarding attitudes about eHealth, students generally agreed on the importance of eHealth and technical aspects of their education. The importance of integrating eHealth literacy skills in the curricula and the need to encourage the improvement of these skills for both students and personnel are highlighted, as is the importance of identifying students with lacking computer skills.
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